Looking for another weekend getaway from your Bangkok condo? This weekend, from March 21st to 23rd will be the exciting kick-off to the 13th Annual Pattaya Music Festival; one of the most widely recognized music events in Asia.
The event will attract music lovers from around the world who are interested in exposing themselves to a music from virtually all genres including pop, rock, hip-hop and R’n’B. Thai and international artists will perform at four different stages along the Beach Road of Pattaya. As the concert goes from 6pm to midnight each night, visitors have the option of relaxing on the beach, checking out the food stalls and booths with music-related accessories, or exploring the bustling city of Pattaya during the day.
Many hotels are offering special room rates, so if you don’t already own a house or condo in Pattaya you can easily find an affordable place to stay. If you do happen to have a place, you may want to consider renting out your house in Pattaya, as the city is expected to get an influx of over a thousand additional visitors.
Music festivals, or events with multiple stages and dozens or more artists all in one place at one time is a trend that has been developing worldwide for many years, but Thailand has only very recently caught onto this movement. If you’re an expat or world traveller who has been to music festivals before, the Pattaya Music Festival may seem calm, but to a first-timer, it may seem like a very hectic day!
If you’ve never been to a music festival before, below we have some tips to make your first one as great of an experience as possible
Top Five Music Festival Tips and Tricks
- Research the Music
There is a great line-up with many international bands and DJs as well as local Thai musicians. While festivals are a fun way to be introduced to new music, concerts are more fun when you can sing along. Listening to a song that you know you will be seeing performed live within a matter of days or even hours is a great way to get you excited for the show. - Wear Proper Shoes
Music festivals in general tend to be on large fields of grass, and the Pattaya Music Festival is no exception. All the people jumping and pounding their feet into the ground tends to uproot a lot of mud, which flip flops can get stuck in. But even on the driest of days and hardest of grounds, it’s still a good idea to wear covered shoes just in case an exuberant fellow festival-goer jumps on your feet. - Pack Lightly, But Bring Essentials
You will be walking; standing and dancing all day so bringing anything you’ll have to carry around will just become annoying and cumbersome. Instead of bringing a bag of some sort, see if you can fit everything in your pockets. If you want a few extra essentials though, such as sunscreen, a water bottle, Band-Aids, Chapstick or anything else, stick it in a light-weight backpack or a fanny pack or money belt. - Be Safe With A Buddy System
It is easy to make friends at music festivals, but for safety purposes you want to stick with a buddy as much as possible in case you end up with the wrong crowd. Sometimes festivals get so crowded that they often can’t handle the overload of people using their mobile phones. This means that if you and your buddy get separated, you may not be able to find each other after so it’s also a good idea to establish a meeting spot. - Strategic Positioning to Meet the Bands
If you’re a big fan of one of the bands, it’s good to know that the artists are generally much more accessible than they would be at a traditional concert. Hang out by the radio tents where artists do interviews or take a walk to find the tour buses and you may quickly become start struck.
Are you headed to the Pattaya Music Festival this weekend? Let us know how you like it, or leave more music festival tips or tricks that we missed in the comment section below!
